At-Home Brushing & Flossing Tips for a Healthy Smile
The best way to keep your smile healthy and strong is to brush and floss your teeth regularly. Dental experts recommend brushing twice a day and flossing at least once a day—yet most adults skip the flossing part altogether. Lacking a good hygiene routine, however, this could lead to cavities, gum disease, and eventually tooth loss. Below, we’ll share some tips to improve your at-home brushing and flossing habits to help you achieve a healthy smile.
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Tip #1 – Work on Your Brushing Technique
The concept of brushing is pretty easy, but you may not be doing it correctly or for the right length of time. Many people are unaware that proper brushing should be at least two minutes. So, the next time you brush your teeth, set a timer on your phone and focus on gently brushing all the surfaces of your teeth (frontside, backside, and top chewing surfaces).
Make sure you angle the bristles of your toothbrush toward your gum line and take your time to clean hard-to-reach areas like your back molars. Don’t forget to sweep your tongue with your toothbrush as well to remove bacteria and help prevent bad breath.
Bonus Brushing Tips
Some extra tips to help you improve your oral health and maintain a bright smile include:
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush or invest in an electric toothbrush.
- Use fluoride toothpaste but only a pea-sized amount.
- Angle your toothbrush bristles 45-degrees from the gum line
- Use small, circular motions and lightly scrub back and forth on each tooth.
- Monitor your technique by watching yourself brush in the mirror.
- Do replace your toothbrush or electric toothbrush head every three months or immediately after an illness.
Tip #2 – Make Flossing a Priority
Although flossing isn’t everyone’s favorite part of cleaning their teeth, it is incredibly beneficial to floss at least once a day. Food particles and bacteria turn into plaque and quickly build up on your teeth, below the gum line, and on the sides of your teeth. These areas are challenging to clean with a regular toothbrush. However, proper flossing can help remove harmful bacteria before it progresses into the early stages of gingivitis and/or tooth decay. Once you master your flossing technique, it should only take you a minute or two to do, and it is completely worth it!
Helpful Flossing Tips
Some useful things to know when flossing your teeth:
- Use 18-24 inches of dental floss
- Avoid using floss picks
- Wrap the floss around your two middle fingers on opposite hands and leave an inch between them. Then, use your thumb and index finger to control the dental floss.
- When sliding the floss between your teeth, use a gentle sawing motion to break the contact between your teeth so the floss can reach the gum line.
- Once you reach the gum line, hug the floss around the tooth to create a C shape, then slide the C-shaped floss below the gums
- Floss between all of your teeth even if you have gaps, and make sure to floss the backsides of your last molars
- If you’re having trouble flossing, consider purchasing a water flosser or Waterpik
If it’s been a while since you’ve last flossed your teeth, during flossing, you may notice some bleeding—and afterward, your gums may be a little tender. This is normal and should go away within a week or so of daily flossing.
Tip #3 – Rinse with a Fluoride Mouth Wash
An extra step you can add to your at home brushing and flossing routine is to rinse your mouth with a fluoride mouth wash. Not only does the mouth wash leave your mouth feeling fresh and clean, but it also helps cut down on decay-causing bacteria in your mouth. Just make sure not to use mouth wash in substitution of brushing and flossing!
Useful Mouth Rinse Tips:
- Don’t use a mouth rinse that contains alcohol as this can cause dry mouth
- Try to rinse for at least 30 seconds but ideally for one minute
- Find a mouth rinse that would benefit your needs (cavity protecting, gum disease or gingivitis, whitening, and dry mouth). If you’re not sure what you need, ask your dentist.
Don’t Forget to Schedule Your Check-Ups at Brand Dental
A good home brushing and flossing routine will help make your dental cleanings easier and decrease your chances of tooth decay. If it’s been over a year since your last dental check-up, it’s time to schedule an appointment. Brand Dental provides excellent preventative care, restorative treatments, and cosmetic solutions to restore your smile. With the combination of brushing, flossing, mouth rinse, and regular dental visits, you’ll be able to show off your healthy smile proudly!
